# Mumbai Police denies CJP Shivaji Park protest, Jail Bharo threat

2026-09-27T17:06:46+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 5 independent outlets

Mumbai Police has denied permission for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to hold a protest at Shivaji Park on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. The police cited a Bombay High Court order from 2013 and a 2016 Maharashtra government directive that bar it from authorising gatherings at the venue. It also flagged noise pollution, traffic congestion, and the absence of a mandatory BMC permit, and advised the organisers to choose an alternative location. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke questioned the denial, pointing out that a political rally for Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was held at the same venue in January 2026. He warned that if permission is not granted, the party will launch a 'Jail Bharo Andolan' in Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti. The CJP had called for nationwide protests on October 2 demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, following a report of internal dissent within the Election Commission. The EC has said differing views are normal and its decisions have legal sanction.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Deccan Herald and NDTV Profit led with Dipke's Jail Bharo warning, framing the story as a confrontation over protest rights. Hindustan Times and Siasat gave fuller space to the police's legal reasoning and practical objections, grounding the denial in court orders and civic rules. Times Now added Dipke's pointed comparison with the Eknath Shinde rally, which raises a consistency question the police have not addressed. The core dispute is not about the legality of a Shivaji Park gathering, which is settled, but about whether the rules are applied evenly across political groups. The CJP has not yet applied for an alternative venue.

## Coverage

- deccanherald.com (government critical) <https://www.deccanherald.com/india/mumbai-police-denies-cjp-permission-at-shivaji-park-founder-threatens-jail-bharo-andolan-4161812>
  Leads with free speech violation claim against Meta and government
- ndtvprofit.com (neutral report) <https://www.ndtvprofit.com/india/cjp-says-mumbai-police-denied-october-2-protest-march-warns-of-jail-bharo-andolan-12105902>
  Straight wire-style summary of denial and warning
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/why-mumbai-police-denied-permission-to-cjp-for-october-2-protest-against-cec-gyanesh-kumar-101790523912934.html>
  Lays out police reasoning and EC rebuttal without comment
- timesnownews.com (neutral report) <https://www.timesnownews.com/india/how-was-eknath-shinde-granted-permission-then-dipke-questions-mumbai-police-over-oct-2-protest-article-156236595>
  Includes Dipke's questioning of unequal treatment at same venue
- siasat.com (neutral report) <https://www.siasat.com/sir-row-cjp-denied-permission-for-oct-2-stir-at-shivaji-park-3549185/>
  PTI copy: detailed police explanation and background on SIR row

Tags: Abhijeet Dipke, Cockroach Janta Party, Election Commission of India, Gyanesh Kumar, Mumbai Police, Shivaji Park
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